broker-dealers

So I spent last week – the whole week – doing an arbitration with JAMS.  It involved some of the typical elements of a FINRA claim, e.g., allegations of the sale of an unregistered security, of an “investment” gone bad, of misrepresentations and omissions in connection with the “sale” of that “investment,” but for reasons

I have been in a JAMS arbitration the last week or so, so thanks to Chris — Mr. Expungement — for his thoughts about PIABA’s study. –  Alan

In a move that surprised nobody, PIABA[1] recently released an updated study on expungement awards from 2019/2020, and, in the most predictable fashion, they continue to

I am writing this while flying home from my first business trip in over 15 months.  I have to tell you, it is more than a bit of a strange feeling to be out and among people again.  While my face is sore from wearing this N95 mask nearly non-stop for three days, my hands

For many years, FINRA has attempted in several settings to substitute objective criteria for subjective ones, to try and make things easier for itself, and to make things more consistent from district to district and from firm to firm.  For instance, FINRA used to – and may still today – identify firms whose exam cycles

FINRA is often accused (mostly rightfully, and certainly by me) of being a horse-is-already-out-of-the-barn sort of regulator, jumping on an issue only after the problem has already arisen and made it to the front page of the Wall Street Journal.  But, that’s not always the case.  Indeed, there are occasions when FINRA is out ahead

I have always operated with the understanding that, per FINRA rules, one cannot supervise him- or herself.  Hardly an outrageous proposition.  Today, however, that fundamental, bedrock understanding was so shaken, it has left me wondering whether anything is what it seems (especially when coupled with Loyola’s win this weekend over Illinois, which, really, can only

My friend and former colleague, Brian Rubin, publishes annually his analysis of FINRA Enforcement cases, spotting trends in terms of the number and types of matters it brings, the sanctions meted out, etc.  It is an excellent tool, and eagerly anticipated by lots of us who practice in this industry.  One of the hard parts

Thanks to Blaine for not only attending this panel session, but for summarizing it for us! – Alan 

Recently, the Roaring Kitty (aka Keith Gill) and his brethren made headlines with their trading (most notably in GameStop) and the impact it had on certain hedge funds and banks.  The interest on this saga seems to